ask thee what they are That spark les in those Eyes so fair VVhat are they soules or flames that fly And hover so about that Eye They are flames which death to foules do give Or rather soules that makes Love live 'T is strange that from the selfe same eyes A Life and Death should both arise The works of gods all wonders are And so these Sunâ— seemes sure as rare To think them human is a sin Since reverence from the gods they win To love them they command thy heart Since thou to look allowed art 'T is true but yet my heart doth bear In it such reverentiall fear As bids devotion pay not Love To one that equalls gods above But star the gods who blessings shoure VVill not require above our power But try I say and thou wilt prove Thou canst not look but thou must love Whilst Diana to amuse the company did read these Lines aloud and these being ended took others of which the Altar was full Phillis addressed her selfe unto Astrea Oh heavens dear Sister said she unto her how I am amazed at all I finde in this place For my part answered Astrea I am so much out of my selfe as I know not whether I be asleep or awake Look upon this Writing and then tell me whether you ever saw the like unto it This answered Phillis is Celadon's writing or else I am not Phillis There is no doubt of it answered Astrea and I do very well remember that he writ this last line VVanting the Substance Shadowes comfort me upon a little Picture which he had of me and which he wore about his neck in a little bag of persumed Leather I pray see said Phillis what is in this paper which I took up from under your Picture Stay stand and gaze did e're eye see A Saint so pure so fair as she Can any be so dully dumb As not Idolater become And rather all the gods give o're Then not so fair a Saint adore But soft ere I devotion pay Let me consider what I say These flaming Beauties are not eyes Only a Picture which I prize It is not reall only shade By an in genious Artist made Are they not eyes Can any Art Like them so captivate a Heart Sure Pictures be they ne're so like So mortally can never strike But be they what they will I 'me sure No Mortall can the blowes endure Since by their power I wounded am I 'le flie them to avoid the same But why fond Lover wilt thou flie From such a fatall piercing eye Thy heart 's already wounded by it What e're it be 't is vain to flie it Oh Sister said Astrea it is most certainly Celadon that writ these Verses it is without any manner of doubt for about three years since he did write them upon my Picture which my Father had of me to give unto my Uncle Focion Upon this tears flowed from her eyes But Phillis fearing the rest of the Company would see her Sister said she this is rather a cause of rejoycing then sorrow for if Celadon did write it as I do believe he did certainly he is not dead although you think he was drowned and if it be so what greater cause of joy could you have Ah Sister said she turning the other way and pushing her from her for gods sake do not torment me with any such language Celadon is too certainly dead by my folly and I am most miserable in the losse I see the gods are not yet contented with those tears that I have already shed for him since they have brought me hither to give me a fresh subject for more But since they will have it so I will turn my selfe wholly into tears and though I cannot wholly wash away my offence by them yet I will never cease untill I have lost either my eyes or my life or both I do not tell you said Phillis that Celadon is alive but I must tell you that if he did write these Verses I must of necessity conclude that he is not dead Sister said she our Druides tell us that we have soules which never die although our bodies do and so in that sence he may live I have heard say answered Phillis that it is our duty to give a buriall unto the dead and to put a piece of mony in their mouths to pay the Ferry-man for wafting them over the Stygian Lake and that such as are deprived of buriall are a hundred years wandring about the places where they lost their bodies and how can you tell but that the soul of Celadon having lost his body and being denyed that charitable office may be wandring about the fatall River of Lignon and still retain the same affection and thoughts which he had before Ah Sister said Astrea these are but meer phantasms Celadon is certainly dead and these are the testimonies of his affection and my folly What I do say answered Phillis is grounded upon more then phantaims and Chimeraes and I hint then upto you out of my desire to contribute unto your tranquillity I do know it Sister replyed Astrea but consider that if I should think Celadon alive and afterwards finde him to be dead nothing could preserve my life this would be to see him die twice and the gods and my own heart do know how near his first death did bring me to my grave Yet you may receive this satisfaction by it answered Phillis as to know that death could not extinguish the affection which he bore unto you That said Astrea conduceth unto his glory and my punishment Nay rather said Phillis this construction may be made of it that he being dead does cleerly and without a cloud see the pure and entire affection which you bear unto him and that the jealousie which caused your anger against him did proceed only from the superabundance of your love for I have heard say that our soules separated from the bodies do still see and behold them This answered Astrea would be the greatest satisfaction that I can receive for I do not doubt but as my imprudence did give him great cause of griefe so this sight of my affection would give him contentment For if I did not love him above all the world and if I do not continue stil in the same affection may the gods never love me These two Shepheardesses were talking thus whilst Diana entertained the rest of the Company sometimes in reading the papers which she found upon the Altar and sometimes a king Paris Tircis and Silvander what was their thoughts of these things There is not any here but knowes said Paris but this Picture was made for Astrea and conceives that he who put it in this place does not only â—ove but adore her For my part said Silvander if Celadon were not dead I should believe these Characters to be his How said Tircis Celadon who was drowned some three or four months since in the River Lignon The same answered Silvander
me is rather an argument of your little merit then of any ensuing victory for so it is usuall to do only to make all even What do you mean by that said the shepheard I mean replyed she that on that end which is too leight they use to put some weight to counterpoise it untill the journey be ended but when they are arrived there then they throw away that which was only to make an equall ballance So till we are arrived at the end of our terme Diana does wisely ballance that side which is the leighter by her favours but afterwards she will give her judgment without any regard unto the weight of my affection or the levity of your little love And then God knowes on whom the victory you speak of will fall Silvander smiled and answered It is rather the custome of miserable people to be envious and lessen the happinesse of others which they infinitely esteem by their language Phillis without any further reply left him and went unto the two shepheardesses and was extreamly offended at them And because Diana laid the fault upon Astrea and Astrea could not well excuse her selfe Silvander began to speak for them both addressing himselfe unto Diana I beseech you fairest Mistresse said he consider how prudent Love is and how wisely he governes the actions of those he is pleased withall You thought hitherto that Phillis loved you and indeed I know none but have in some sort been deceived by her dissimulations Love who knowes all the interiour faculties of the soul and purposing to undeceive you hath caused you to favour me with this Bracelet of your hair not onely as a mark of my affection but also to discover the hollow affection of this deluder by her jealousie For as it is a thing impossible that two contraries should be at the same time in one place so much more that love and jealousie should be at the same time in one and the same heart Silvander's aim was only to torment Phillis the more for knowing how jealous Lycidas was he doubted not but to trouble her by proposing that Love and Jealousy are inconsistent And she being touched to the quick could not chuse but answer him thus Pray Shepheard what reasons and arguments have you to maintain so bad an opinion Such said he as will make you confesse your selfe of the same at the least if you know what the reason is Love is nothing but a desire and every desire is hot Jealousie is nothing but a fear and all fear is as cold as ice and how can you imagine such a cold Child should be the issue of such a hot Parent We see said Phillis that flint which is cold will send sorth sparks that are hot Most true answered Silvander but fire never produceth cold Yet by your favour replied Phillis ashes that are cold do proceed from fire Yes answered the shepheard but when the ashes are cold the fire is not in them Phillis was almost non-plust at this reply and much more when Diana spoke So likewise said she when cold jealousie begins Love that is hot ends Mistresse replyed Phillis my enemy may well get the victory if he have so good a Second as your selfe Then turning her selfe towards Astrea And you fair shepheardesse said she I may justly think you a very ill friend if seeing me assaulted by two you will not take my part Astrea answered very sadly I do hold it for a thing so certainly true that jealousy may proceed from love as not to bring it into any doubt I will not dispute it lest I should be forced to confess that I my selfe did not love because I was jealous as I do see you are forced to confess that being jealous of Diana you do not 〈◊〉 her or at the least being in doubt whether jealousie may proceed from love you are not well assured whether you love her or no. I do kiss the hand of this fair and just shepheardess said Silvander who without respect of persons speaks with so much truth in my advantage If you be obliged unto me said Astrea then surely you do think that I did speak partially in your favour for none are beholding unto him that speaks truth more then to him that payes a debt justly due Most true answered Silvander if it be taken in the rigour of justice but we do live in an age wherein so few do follow vertue simply and cleerly as we may think our selves obliged unto those that will but acknowledge any benefit although they are obliged unto it But what can you argue against that experience which we daily finde said Phillis unto him For I know a shepheard who after he had loved long and fell into extream jealousie yet afterwards recovering out of it did continue his affection long after Can you say that this was a fire extinguished which produced these ashes It is not impossible answered Silvander but one that is well may fall sick and after that sickness grow well again nor that a fire may be put out and afterwards kindled again Affection that was long hot may be put out by cold jealousie and that jealousie being gone it may become as hot as ever it was before But it cannot be that health and sickness hot fire and cold ashes love and jealousie should be in the same subject at the same time And for a full clearing of this truth let us observe the effects of love and jealousie and by them judge whether the causes from whence they proceed have any conformity together The effects of Love is an extream desire in our soules to see the person loved to serve her and to please her as much as possibly we can The effects of jealousie is a fear to meet her whom we love a carelessness to please her and a disdaining to serve her And who can think such contrary effects can proceed from one and the same cause If we do we must confess that nature will destroy her selfe if she will have contraries to consist together Phillis would gladly have answered but she was so non-plust as she knew not where to begin at which Diana could not chuse but laugh especially when she considered the jealousie of Lycidas And to add more matter for her perplexities she did purposely speak in this manner Jealousie is a signe of love as old ruines are signes of ancient buildings which are the greater the more magnificent the Edifice was And therefore a great jealousie cannot proceed from a little love But as we cannot give the name of buildings unto these ruines so jealousy cannot be called love And if I may judge by my own humour if I did love I should not have power to be jealous And what would you be said Phillis if he whom you should love should love another His enemy answered Diana I would say hate him And though I do foresee that such an accident would displease me yet it would be more for being deceived so long then for
enough to expresse her griefe both her eyes and mouth did leave their offices unto her imaginations so long as both eyes toung imagination and all other faculties being tyred out she fell asleepe Whilst things passed thus amongst the Shepheards and Shepheardesses Celadon was observed by the three Nymphes in the Pallace of Isoures with all indulgent care but the hurt which the water had done him was so great that for all their remedies which they applied he could not open his eyes nor give any signe of life but only by the beating of his heart passing all the day and a good part of the night before he came to himselfe And when he opened his eyes he was in a great amazement to find himselfe in that place for he very well remembred what he had done and how a rash despair had made him throw himselfe into the water but he knew not how he came thither And after he had stayed a long while in this confused thought he asked whether he was alive or dead If I be alive said he how is it possible that the cruelty of Astrea should not kill me And if I be dead why cruell Love dost thou torment me in the shades of death is it not enough that thou hast my life but thou must receive my old flames out of my dead ashes And the great perplexitie in which Astrea had left him having now forsaken him he called into his memory all his former conceptions and his mind being full of imagination both of his miseries and also of his former happinesse he fell into such a sound sleepe that the Nymphes had time enough to come and see him and finding him fast asleepe they opened the curtaines and windowes very gently and did sit downe by him the better to view and contemplate upon him Galathea after a whiles confideration did in a low voice for feare of wakeing him say oh how this Shepheard is changed since yesterday What a fresh complexion is upon a suddaine come into his face seriously I do not repent of all the paines I have taken in saving his life for as you said sweetheart said shee and turned towards Silvia he is one of the principall in al the country Madam answered the Nymph most certainly he is for Alsippes is his Father and Amarillis his Mother How said Galathea that Alsippe so famous who to save his freind did break open the Prison of the Visigotts at Ussum The very same said Silvia I have seene him severall times at feasts which are kept by the Townes about Lignon And because Alsippes seemed unto me most worthy of observation I looked long upon him for the formalitie of his beard and the gravitie of his venerable age did exact honour and observance from every one But as for Celadon I remember that of all the Shepheards there was only he and Silvander who had confidence enough to approach me by Silvander I knew which was Celadon and by Celadon which Silvander for both of them had in their Garbes and discourse somthing more generous then the name of Shepheard useth to owne Whilst Silvia spake Love in mock age of the subtiltie of Climante and Polemas who were the cause of Galatheas coming to the place where she tooke up Celadon did begin to kindle new flames in this Nymph for all the while that Silvia spoke she had her eyes upon the Shepheard and the applauds which she gave him did enter into her soul and the more easilie because she was prepared for it by the coming of Climante who counterfetting himselfe to be a Druide had foretold her that the man whom she should meet with in the place where she found Celadon should be her husband unlesse she would be the most miserable woman in the world the plot being that Polemas should go to that place at the hour to the end that she might more willingly be induced to marry him which otherwise the affection she bore unto Lindamor would not permit But Fortune and Love are too hard for Prudence and sent Celadon thither by chance as I have told you so as Galathea intending to fixe Love upon this Shepheard did thinke him to be extreame Lovely And seeing he did not wake she went out as gently as she could to entertaine her new thoughts There was neere his chamber a backe paire of staires which opened to a low Gallerie out of which by a draw bridge one might go into a Garden full of choice varieties Fountaines Statues Walkes Arbors and all that Art could invent out of this Garden was a dore into a Wildernesse of severall sorts of Trees in which was severall Labirinthes wherein one might wander to the losse of ones selfe yet by reason of the umbrage were very delightfull In one of which was a Fountaine called The truth of Love a place in truth marvelously pleasing for by force of Inchantment a Lover who looked in it might see her he loved if he were Loved he might see his Mistrisse by him if she Loved another that other would be presented and not himselfe And because it did discover all the deceipts of Lovers it was called the Truth of Love In another Labirinth was the Cavern of Damon and Fortune and in another was the denn of an old Mandrake full of so many wonders and witchcrafts that every vanitie appeared a fresh miracle Moreover in the other parts of the wood there was severall other Grotts so well counterfeited and neere the naturall as the eye did oft deceive the judgment It was in this Garden where the Nymph did walke waiting for the waking of the Shepheard And because her new desires would not permit her to be silent she faigned to forget somthing which she commanded Silvia to go and seeke for she confided lesse in her green youth then in Leonidas whose age was arrived at more maturitie though both these Nymphes were her secret confidents And being alone with Leonida she thus said unto her what do thinke Leonida has not this Druide a strange knowledge of things Does not the gods freely communicate themselves unto him for what is future he knowes as well as the present The truth is answered the Nymph he did very directly shew you in the Mirror the very place where you found this Shepheard and also told you the very time but his words were so ambiguous that I beleeve he hardly understood them himselfe Why do you say so answered Galathea since he hath particularly told me every thing as perfectly as I my selfe do not now kow them better than he did before they happened he only told you answered Leonida that you should find in this place a thing of an inestimable value though formerly it had beene disdayned Nay Leonida said she he has told me more then that particularly Madam said he you have two very contrary influences the one the most unfortunate under the heavens the other the most happie that can be desired And it is in your choice to take which
SInce Father you command it so said the Shepheard I will relate the whole matter unto you Stella is the Widow of a Husband which Heaven gave her rather for a name then ought else for besides his sicknesse his age which was above sixtie six had so impaired his strength that he left her a lusty young Widow before she was almost married And the affection she had unto him was not so much as to make her grieve too much for her losse nor indeed was her humour such as to take any thing too much to heart When she saw her selfe ridd of two heavy yokes both almost at once to wit a riddance from an old crasy and peevish Husband and from that strictest observance which is expected from Ghildren to Parents she then began to shew her selfe and ruffle in the world with a great noise And as she was none of those killing beauties that make themselves loved by force so her affectednesse did not at all please any that looked upon her Her age was some seventeen or eighteen an age that is apt to commit much folly when liberty is given unto it This was the reason that Saliam her Brother a very honest and discreet Shepheard not being able to endure the expensive courses which she drew upon him and in some sort to restrain her did get her out of his village into such a place where she might live in lesse danger of scandall in order to which he intreated Cleanthes that he would be pleased to let her accompany his Daughter Amintha because they suited so well in age though Stella had a little the start of her And Cleanthes being content there grew such a familiarity betwixt these two Shepheardesses and they lived such private lives and contented as they were never out of sight of one another Many did wonder that these two being of such different tempers yet they did so well comply but the sweet and loving disposition of Amintha and the supple and easie nature of Stella were the causes so Amintha never crossed the designes of her Companion and Stella never thwarted whatsoever Amintha desired so as they kept such a correspondency together as nothing was hid from each other But at last Lysis the Son of the Shepheard Genetian leaving the frozen valleyes of Mount Luna and coming into our more pleasant plaines and seeing Stella at an assembly in the Temple of Venus when Astrea did carry away the prise of beauty he fell so in love with Stella as I do not well know whether or no it hath not sent him to his Grave And she was so compliant to him as after severall journeyes and messages things were come to that passe as Lysis moved her to marriage unto which she gave as favourable an answer as he could desire At this time Saliant was constrained unto such a far off journey as he knew nothing of this treaty besides she did now take upon her selfe such absolute authority as she did not communicate her matters unto him On the other side Amintha seeing her so soon resolved upon marriage did often ask her whether or no she was in good earnest and told her that it was a matter of so great importance as required very great and serious consideration Amintha answered she never trouble your selfe for I am not gon so far but I can easily make a retreat Mean time Lysis did make himselfe so sure of marriage as that he set down the day invited many of his friends and was at such charges as are usuall upon such occasions But Stella according to the custome of many women who are proud of their own libertie started from her first intentions and broke all off by such unreasonable demands as she knew the Parents of Lysis would never consent unto But his love being above all difficulties and satisfying all her unreasonable demands she was at last forced to break off with him upon no other pretence but the slendernesse of his affection to her You may easily imagine how Lysis resented this affront but however he could not yet master his love And I remember upon this subject he composed these Verses which afterwards he gave unto me Upon Anger against Love IS Anger mad in making me to go Gainst such a fatall and puissant foe Must I conducted be into the field By such a Captain as is sure to yield A Leader in such lamentable armes Gainst love that 's arm'd with arrowes and with charmes Can faint and feeble Anger ever think Victorious Love to conquer and make shrink No no the wafting of his wing will shatter Thy Squadrons all and will thy Bulwarks batter Love hath of anger such infinite of odds As with his fore-works he can conquer Gods Resistance will but add unto his glory And being conquer'd make more sad my story I 'le therefore mercy ask and quarter cry Which if my fairest shepheardesse deny Then triumph in Elizian shades will I And my own death shall be my victory The cause of Stella's change in her affection was the courtship of another Shepheard called Semires which did imprint it selfe very deep in her soul and which Lysis did perceive the last of all men for she did conceal it more from him than any other This Shepheard Semires was of all men that my conversation ever met with the most dissembling and crafty that he was otherwise a man of very excellent parts which caused this Shepheardesse to go against her own promise and reject the match with Lysis and to confer all her favours upon her new Lover who yet did not long triumph in this victory For so it happened that Lupeander making a great Feast at the marriage of his Daughter Olympia Lysis and Stella were invited thither and I being a kinsman unto the Bride I would not sail to be there also I know not whether Love did it cut of revenge or whether it was the naturall giddinesse of Stella's wavering temper but so it was that she no sooner saw Lysis then she had a minde to recall him into her favour and in order to that spruced up her selfe in all her affectednesse which nature had very imprudently been prodigall of unto her But the offended spirit of this Shepheard had armed him with so much courage as to hide all his affection to her though he could not extinguish the flames of love Towards night when every one prepared for dancing and to apply themselves unto those persons most sutable to their liking Stella did so pursue Lysis that he being in a corner of a window he could not handsomely avoid her but was forced to receive the assaults of his loving enemy Semires all this while observing how she pursued Lysis all the evening according to the naturall temper of all Lovers he began to be sprinkled with jealousie knowing well that a candle newly extinguished will soon light again And seeing her so close to Lysis he got so neer as seeming to talk unto another he heard her ask Lysis
me tell you Hylas that all those reasons which you have instanced for a proof that the loving party ought to be loved again though they be fals yet shall be allowed as good But how can you conclude from them that Tircis ought to betray the amitie of Cleon by beginning a new love of Laonice These are impossibilities and contradictions Impossible because none is obliged unto more then they can do How would you have this Shepheard love when he has no will You laugh Hylas when you heare me say he has none Faith I do so said Hylas I pray what has he done with it He that loves answered Phillis doth give his soul it self all its faculties unto the party loved and so by con equenee his wil is not in his power But this Cleon replyed Hylas being dead has nothing and therefore Tircis ought to to take his own again Ah Hylas Hylas answered Phillis you talke like an ignorant in Love for such gifts as are disposed on by Loves authoritie are for ever irrevocable Pray then said Hylas what is become of this will since the death of Cleon The lesse followes the greater replied Phillis if pleasure be the object of the will if that cease to be a pleasure where 's the will And so it hath followed Cleon if Cleon be not then there is no will for he had never had it but for her But if Cleon be in some certain place as our Druids hold that she is then this will is in her hands so contented in the place where she is that if she her selfe would chase it away she cannot returne it to Tircis as knowing well it would be in vain but it goes into the grave and rests with her beloved Ashes this being so why do you tax the faithful Tircis with ingratitude if it be in his power to love any other Also you do not only require things impossible but also things in themselves contraries for if every one ought to love the party that loves why should he not then love Cleon who never failed him in amitie And as for the recompences which you demand for the Services and Letters which Laonice carried pray let her remember the contentment she received by them and how merry she made herselfe as long as this fallacie lasted who otherwise would have droned out a dull and melancholy life So as if she balance the payment which the service I assure my selfe she will think her selfe very well payed You say Hylas that Tircis deceived her but I say it was no deceipt but a just punishment of love who returned her own blows upon her selfe for her intention was not to serve him but to delude Cleon. Thus Silvander have I briefly answered the false reasons of this Sheapheard and there remaines no more but to make Laonice confesse that she injured Tircis in her unjust pursuing of him which I shall easily do if she will be but pleased to answer me Fair Shepheardesse pray tell me do you love Tircis Shepheardesse answered she all that knowes me knowes I do If he were forced to be absent replyed Phillis and another in the mean time should court you would you not change affection No answered she for I would still hope he would returne If you heard that he would never return said Phillis would you then cease to love him No certainly answered she Then Fair Laonice answered Phillis think it not strange that Tircis who knowes that his Cleon is in heaven that she sees all his actions and rejoyceth in his fidelity should not change the affection he bore unto her nor let this distance of place seperate their loves since all the hindrances of life could never do it Do not beleeve what Hylas said that none ever returnes over the River Acheron many that have been beloved of the gods have both gone and come and who knowes but Cleon who was adorned with so many excellencies of soul may find the same favour from Love Oh Laonice were but your eyes permitted to look upon Divinitie you would see that Cleon to defend her own cause is in this place and whispers these words into my eares which I utter in her defence Then would you confesse that Hylas was in the wrong when he said that Tircis was mad to love her cold ashes Me thinks I see her in the midst of us and in lieu of a fragile body subject unto humane accidents she is cloathed with glorious imortality and chiding Hylas for the blasphemies he had breathed against her What wouldst thou answer Hylas if thy happy Cleon should say thus unto thee Wilt thou offer O thou inconstant wretch to stain my Tircis with thy own insidelity If he did heretofore love me dost thou think it was my Body If thou shouldst answer Yes I would then reply that then he ought to be condemned to love the ashes which I have left in my Coffin as long as they will last For a Lover never ought to retreat from a Love once begun If thou dost confesse that it was my Soul he loved which was my principall part then Oh thou fond and unconstant sinner why should he now change his will since she is now more perfectly glorious than ever she was Otherwise such is the misery of the living I should be jealous I should be vexed and I should be seen by many eyes as I am by his But now I am delivered from such mortall imperfections and am no more capable of any infirmities And wouldst thou Hylas with thy sacrilegious perswasions divert him from me in whom I only lived upon earth and by a most barbarous cruelty endeavour to give me a second death Oh! most horrid to hear These words wise Silvander do make such a Turring sound in my ears as I do believe they will make your heart resent them as well as mine And therefore to let this divinity argue the cause in your soul I will be silent only let me hint thus much unto you that Love is so just as you your selfe ought to stand in awe of his punishing hand if Laonice's pitty rather then Cleon's reasons should move you At this word Phillis made a low congee intimating thereby that she had no more to say in the behalfe of Tircis Laonice offered to answer further but Silvander would not suffer her saying that now she was to hear the sentence which the gods would pronounce by his mouth Then after he had weighed the reasons on both sides he pronounced this Doom The Judgment of Silvander THe principall point in the cause debated before us is to know whether Love can die by the death of the party loved Unto which I say that the Love which is perishable is not right Love for it ought to follow the subject which gave it life and therefore those who love only the Body ought to enclose their love of that body in the same Coffin where it is but such as love the Soul ought with their love to flie
most true that she did love him and did give him so many proofs of it as he had been but a very shallow man had he not seen it And though she would have dissembled it with me yet I do know that she drew him in by such artifices and hopes of her goodwill towards him that I seeing demonstrable assurances given him did think her wholly his But he does most justly merit this punishment for that perfidie which he hath used towards a Nymph whose beguiled affection had just cause for revenge which Love at the last did execute upon him The truth is he is the basest impostor the most ungratefull and the most unworthy to be loved that is under heaven for his ingratitude and if he do resent that pain which others have endured for him he deserves no pitty Adamas seeing her so exasperated against Polemas asked her who that Nymph was which he had deceived for said he to her she must needs be one of your friends since you are so sensible of the offence which was done unto her She now saw that her passion had carried her too far and that she had unawares bolted out a thing which had been kept long a secret yet having a quick wit she so dissembled the businesse as Adamas took no notice of it Do you not know Daughter said Adamas that the aimes of all men is to overcome and compasse the designe which they attempt and the amitie which they shew unto you women when they love you is but to make the way more easie You see Leonida all Love is but a desire of something which is wanting that desire being sadded and cloyed is no more desire and there being no more desire there is no more love and therefore those that would be loved long are those that give least satisfaction unto the desires of their Lovers But said Leonida she whom I do speak of is one of my intimate friends and I know she never treated Polemas but with all the coldnesse she could That replied Adamas did stifle desire for desire is nourished by hopes and favours As a Lamp when Oyle is wanting doth extinguish so does desire die when that which should nourish it is taken away Thus does many Loves die some by too many some by too few favours But let us returne unto the discourse betwixt Galathea and you What was it which she did say unto you She said thus answered Leonida If Polemas had been so discreet as to measure himselfe aright as he was presumptuous in loving me he had taken these favours as flowing from my courtesie and not love But this is nothing to the passage that happened at that time for I had no sooner made an answer unto Polemas but Lindamor according to the order of the Dance came and stole me away and so dexterously that Polemas could not avoid it nor by the same means answer me but with his eyes but truly he made such a sourâ— face at me as I could not for my heart but laugh as for Lindamor he either took no notice of it or else would not make it appear but presently after he talked to me after such a manner as was enough to make Polemas mad had he heard it Madam said he is not this a fatall exchange What do you mean said I unto him I mean said he that in this Dance I have stolne you and in the very truth you have stollen my soul and my heart Then blushing at this I returned this seeming angry answer Fie Lindamor what strange language is this do you not consider who you are and who I am I do so Madam said he and that does invite me to this language for are not you my Lady and I your servant Yes answered I but not so as you do intend it for it is your duty to serve me with reverence and not love or if it be with any affection it must be such as proceeds from your duty To which he presently replyed Madam if I do not serve you with all humble reverence never was any deitie reverenced by any mortall but this reverence must be either the Father or the Child of my affection and call it what you please I am resolved to serve you to love you and to obey you your merits your perfections and my own fate has made me eternally yours he that sees and does not love you deserves not the name of Man and Clidaman's Lottery though it was some cause yet was it only a cover of my soules affection These expressions were uttered with a vehemency as made it plainly appear that his heart and tongue agreed and I beseech you observe one pleasant passage for said Galathea to me I never took any notice of this affection thinking it to be only in jeast and I never had perceived it untill the jealousie of Polemas did hint it unto my thoughts but ever since I have so set my thoughts upon Lindamor and I have sound him as well capable of causing love as jealousie and Polemas ever since that time hath so displeased me in all his actions as I could hardly endure him On the contrary all Lindamors actions did seem so plausible unto me as I wondred that I should observe them no sooner so as the jealousie of Polemas did quench my love of him and transferred my affection upon Lindamor This change had such an operation upon Polemas as ever since caused him to look asquint upon me and I am sure my eyes did not look upon him as they were wont When Galathea spoke thus against him I was not at all sorry by reason of his ingratitude but on the contrary the more to prejudice him I said thus unto her I do not at all wonder Madam that Lindamor should win more upon you than Polemas for their qualities and parts are not comparable and every one that sees them are of the same judgment you are It is true indeed I do foresee much jangling will arise first betwixt them two and secondly betwixt you and Polemas And why said Galathea to me do you think he has such an influence upon my actions or Lindamors That is not it Madam that I do mean said I unto her but I am so well acquainted with the humour of Polemas that he will try all manner of waies leave no stone unturned and will conjure both heaven and earth to ingratiate himselfe unto that happinesse which he hath lost and will commit such grosse follies as will be visible unto all but such as will not see them and such as will offend both you and Lindamor No no Leonida answered she if Lindamor do love me he will do as I shall command him and if he do not love me he will never care what Polemas does And as for Polemas I know how to order him Upon these words she commanded me to draw the Curtain and took her rest at least as well as these new designes would permit her But when the Ball was ended
high rank Amasis and Clidaman caused him with much griefe to be carried off the field and dressed with all possible care insomuch as they began to be in some hopes of his life Every one was extreamly desirous to know who this unknown Knight was whose courage and valour had got him the esteem of very many Galathea was the only person that had an ill opinion of him for this proud Beauty remembred the offence and forgot the courtesie and because it was to me only that she used to vent her most secret thoughts assoon as she saw me in private with her Do you know this discourteous Knight said she unto me unto whom Fortune and not his Valour hath given the advantage of the Combat Madam said I I do know him to be both a valiant and a courteous Knight He has not shew'd it in this action said she for if he had he would have left fighting at my first request Madam answered I you do blame him for that which you ought to esteem him for since in doing honour unto you he thereby was in danger of his life But said she he would not leave sighting when I desired him Had he not all the reason in the world said I unto her to chastise the base act of Polemas who would not first ceafe for my part I think he did very well and Lindamor could not in honour do less then he did How said she was it Lindamor who fought The truth is I was sorry that I had unawares named him but seeing it was out I thought best to tell her Yes Madam said I it was Lindamor who being offended at the report of Polemas would try the truth of them by Armes She was extreamly astonished at it and after she had awhile considered upon this accident she said thus unto me Then I see it is Lindamor who hath done me this discourtesie that is so shallow in his respects unto me Was he so inconsiderate as to put my Honour to the hazard of Fortune and Armes Upon this she was silent and extreamly vexed And I who would by any means make her know that Lindamor was in no fault did thus answer her Is it possible Madam that you should thus complain against Lindamor and not see the wrong you do your selfe What discourtesy has he done you Has he not vanquished Polemas your enemy How my enemy said she Lindamor is much more for he gave Polemas the first cause Oh heavens Madam said I then unto her what do you mean Lindamor more your enemy who has no soul but to adore you nor one drop of blood that he would not spend in your service And can he be more your friend who by his subtle discourse endeavours to stain your honour But Leonida replied she Who knowes whether Lindamor out of his accustomed arrogance and pride did not speak those words wherwith Polemas did tax him But Madam answered I how much are you obliged unto Lindamor for making your enemy confesse that he did invent them Oh Madam I beseech you pardon me if I do accuse you of great ingratitude when Lindamor hazzards his life to make it appear Polemas lyed You accuse him of inconsideration and his making the Lyar to confesse his Lye you tax him with discourtesie Had he not taken himselfe to Armes how should the truth ever have appeared and had he left fighting when first you commanded him Polemas had then never confessed what you and every one heard Ah poor Lindamor how I pitty thy fortune What canst thou possibly do to please since the most signal services are looked upon as offences and crimes Well well Madam perhaps you will not have long to use these cruelties for I beleeve death more pittifull than you will put an end unto your ingratitude and his torments and may be at this very hour he is dead which if he be then the Nimph Galathea is the cause of it Why do you accuse me said she Because replied I when you went to part them and fell upon the ground he helped you up and in the mean while the courteous Polemas whom you extol so highly did most basely wound him in two or three places and I saw Lindamors blood run upon the ground after it but if he doe die upon it it is the least evil he hath received from you for to be scorned after so much duty is me-thinks a misery never equalled But Madam I pray remember the time was you said there was no way to stop these reports of Polemas but by sword and blood He has done what you deemed the best and yet you must needs tax him for doing ill Had not Sylvia and some other Nymphs interrupted us I beleeve I should have somewhat tempered the animosity of this Nymph But seeing so much company coming in we changed discourse yet my words were not without their effect though she would not make it appear unto me but yet I saw it by a thousand symptomes For since that day I resolved to speak unto her no more unless she first asked me She on the other side expected that I should begin And thus eight dayes passed and not a word passed betwixt us of this business In the mean time Lindamor was not without his cares to know what reports went of him at Court and what Galathea thought He sent Flurial unto me upon the same business and to bring me a short Letter And Flurial was so ingenuous that he did his business and Galathea never took any notice of it The Letter was this Lindamor 's Letter unto Leonida Madam THose that do doubt of my innocency are no small offenders against truth Yet as some that shut their eyes and will not see the light though never so resplendent so I am afraid Madam that Galathea to my grief does shut her eyes against the clearness of my cause Oblige me I beseech you in assuring her that if the blood of my enemy will not wash away the stain that he hath put upon me I will most freely adde my own for I value not my life since she does not I enquired very particularly of Flurial how he did and whether any knew him I understood he had lost much blood and that did most retard his cure but that he was not in any danger I perceived he could not be known because his Herald was a Frank of Merovia's Army far off and those about were not permitted to stir out of the house And that Flurials Aunt knew no more of him but that he was the unknown Knight that fought with Polemas whose valour and bounty made them all very diligent about him Also that he had commanded Flurial to come and know of me how reports went at Court and what he should do I commanded him to tell Lindamor that all the Court was full of his valour though he was unknown that he should rest himselfe and have a care of his cure and that I would study his contentment as much as I
shall endeavour to give them It hath already been said that Love doth first begin at the eyes but it is not the eyes that doth nourish it Beauty and goodnesse without any more give it a growth in us when they are once known Now the knowledge of this Beauty indeed comes first by the eyes but when that knowledge is once in our souls wee may love afterwards without the help of eyes which you will easily grant if ever you were in love Consider and tell mee would you lose your love if you lost your eyes No certainly and therefore you must needs confesse it is not your eyes which does preserve your love As for the knowledge of goodness it is produced either by actions or by words both which doe stand in need of presence to be first known but afterwards not at all for that knowledge is afterwards preserved in the secret Cabinet of the memory whereupon a soul does afterwards sufficiently feed Then I beleeve you know Madam that the more knowledge one hath of the party loved the more doth love encrease but then it is apparent that the turbulent motion of the senses doe infinitely hinder the clearnesse of the understanding and as the plummets of a Clock the one cannot ascend unlesse the other doe descend so when the senses are up the understanding part must needs bee down and so the contrary when the senses are absent the Intellectuals are best present and does work more perfectly than they would if they were disturbed by any objects of the eye which is able to doe nothing else but look and desire and sigh If you would think seriously upon any matter has not wise Nature taught you to put your hand upon your eyes to the end that the sight should not divert the understanding another way And therefore hence you must needs conclude with me in my argument and confess that Love digests it self better in absence than in presence But if it be so said Paris how comes it to passe that all Lovers should so passionately desire the sight of them they love It proceeds from ignorance answered Silvander He cannot attribute unto himselfe the name of a Lover who thinkes his love so great that it is impossible it should augment If any be of that opinion he will never seeke after any means to increase it nor bee in any quest of further knowledge but rests himselfe contented with as much onely as his eye can afford him without any deeper contemplation But O great Nymph what a vast difference there is betwixt a love that is nourished by the eyes and a love that is nourished by the understanding As much doubtless as the soul is superiour to the body so much is the understanding to be preferred before the eyes And absence in such is so far from diminishing love that it augments and begets fresh and violent desires to augment it and contemplation of a Beauty does imprint it deeper into the fancy than any eye can If it be so said Paris I wonder you doe not absent your selfe from Diana to the end you may the more love her I told you before answered Silvander that I ought to doe so but that I have not yet obtained so much mastery over my self for generous Paris we are all but men I mean all imperfect and the imperfections of humanity are not upon a sudden removed We are all sensitively inclined and love to see tast smell and touch and must needs hanker after these corporal senses This is the point unto which I have not yet arrived and unto which I ought Reason will forbid such considerations and bid us act all by the intellectual faculties Nature bestowed the senses upon us onely for instruments by which the soul may receive the knowledge of things but not to be our companions in the pleasures and felicities of them as being altogether incapable of so great a good This discourse had continued longer if they had not by chance heard Phillis sing neare the field of Mercury Shee was sitting with another Shepheardesse under a shady tree looking upon their Flocks as they were feeding untill the heat of the day was over As soon as Silvander heard her tone hee turned his head that way and knowing them hee turned his head again so suddenly that Leonida could not chuse but smile What doe you hear and see said she which causeth you to turn your head so quickly away I have seen Madam said he her whom I never see without sorrow Phillis I meane the most cruel of my enemies since she is the cause of my servitude At the very same time Lycidas was walking the same way and was upon them before he was aware Jealousie which made him fly all company made him shun Silvander more than any other but now Civility constrained him to salute Leonida and Paris and being invited to follow them though at first he would have desired their pardon with some frivolous excuses But Leonida who loved him for Celadous sake was so importunate with him that he was forced to make one in the company And Paris who was very desirous to know where Diana was did ask him if he knew who it was that was with Phillis under that shady Tree Lycidas who had not yet taken notice of them looked and then answered that it was Astrea Then going on their way Leonida resumed the discourse which she had begun with Silvander And why Shepheard said she unto him are you so offended against that Shepheardess for though shee be the cause of your love yet is shee also the cause of your becoming a more accomplished man And I beleeve you will confess that love is able to adde much ornament unto our soules and if it be so you are rather much obliged unto her I must needs confesse answered Silvander that I believe without Phillis I had not fallen in love but I must tell you withall that she is the cause that I have lost my liberty and am lesse my own than hers whom I adore And I must also tell you that liberty is of so high a price that I am not so much obliged to her for making me more accomplished as I am disobliged to her for the losse of my dear and desirable freedom But added the Nymph by her means you may perhaps obtain the affection of her whom you adore and love And a well born soul as yours is will set such a value upon that be it at any rate whatsoever as he cannot complain against her who is the cause of it A well born and generous soul replyed he will not upon any termes thank her who is the cause of her servitude for servitude be it in what degree it will is still servitude At the first when Lycidas heard Phillis named he stood still with much attention but after he had heard all the discourse and replyes of Silvander he did beleeve that he really loved her and not being able to hide his Jealousie as
handkerchiefe of blood was still before my eyes so as it was no more then requisite I should have one alwaies by me to add some consolation Leriana who thought that I was ignorant of all her wicked devices would needs be with me as usuall and the better to dissemble it came crying to my bed-side But as soon as ever I saw her I must confesse I had not so much power over my selfe as to dissemble my hatred of her and indeed I thought it in vain since Damon was dead Away away most wicked and perfidious wretch said I unto her away thou very Pest of all human society come not near me with thy damned and hellish tricks had I as much strength as will I would strangle thee with my own hands and tear thy heart in pieces Those who were in the Chamber being ignorant of the cause I had for these expressions were infinitely astonished at them But she who had the readiest wit in her wickednesse of any that ever breathed went from me holding up her hands and eyes and told them that to hee great griefe I was mad and quite out of my wits which they easily believed having heard me utter some odd expressions and thus she went out of my Chamber with this excuse In the mean while Thersander recovered for his wounds were not mortall and the losse of blood only was the cause of his sounding Presently after I also began to be my selfe again and to enquire what reports went of me at Court I understood that every one talked according to their severall fancies but that all in generall blamed me for the death of Damon and how every one thought that Leriana had told many a tale unto Leontidas and his Wife and at the same time I saw Thersander come into my Chamber The very sight of him made me start and having no minde to speak with him when he fell down upon his knees at my beds side I turned my head the other way 'T is very true Madam said he you have no reason to look upon a man who of all men in the world is the most unworthy of your aspect for I must needs confesse I merit that lesse then any man that lives since I have given you so much cause to hate me But if your goodnesse will be pleased to daigne me a hearing perhaps you will not deem me so culpable as now you do And because I answered him very sharply and would not give him leave to speak my Nurse who was with me took his part and told me that I ought to hear him for if he were not in fault I had no reason to treat him so and if he were in fault then I might after a hearing with more reason banish him my presence Well well said I what do you think he will or can alledge I know as well as he he will say that the affection he bears unto me hath forced him to do what he did But what have I to do with his affection if it be so prejudiciall to me I shall not Madam said he unto me insist only upon that affection you speak of though perhaps to any other that might be a better plea and excuse as you think it but I shall go further and tell you that never any were so perniciously subtlely consened as you and I have been by Leriana And hereupon he told the whole story of her jugling artifice how she infused so much confidence into him as to look upon me to speak unto me to aspire unto my favour how she puffed him up by reports unto him of favours from me what stratagems she invented against Damon how she made the world believe he loved Ormanthe how she instructed silly Ormanthe for that purpose and how she gave him a Ring from me which he conceived to be the cause of the quarrell betwixt Damon and him Now Madam said he and continued do you think it possible but that such hopes as she infused into me should swell the most prudent soul that ever was Alas I dare not so much as wish so great a happiness but me-thinks I may in reason be excused since I was meerly drawn in and possed up with vain hopes by the artifice of Leriana with whose persidie I thought fit to acquaint you that you may hereafter beware of her and her wicked devices with which she has cheated both you and me Then he let me understand how this wicked woman seeing she could no longer deceive me and him and being also reprehended by Leontidas and his Wife for having so little care of me she to excuse her selfe had told them all that her subtle imagination could devise against us how I was in love and how I was loved by many and so many as she could hardly number them and amongst those whom she named Damon and Thersander were not forgotten At which Leontidas was so angry and his Wife more both against me and against him as he thought it fit to acquaint me with it to the end I might take the best course I could And lastly he made such humble supplications that I would pardon him for daring to love me and such serious protestations to live for the future as he ought that I was constrained by the intreaties of my Nurse to pardon him But now wise Shepheardesses I shall acquaint you with one of the greatest villanies that ever was invented against an innocent person I told you before how Ormanthe by Leriana's command was extreamly fond of Damon and you must know that she was not so ill favoured nor so disgusted but her kindnesses to him were well accepted so as she proved to be with Child The poor silly Wench presently acquainted her crafty Aunt with it who at the first was much astonished and offended at it but afterwards having recourse to her accustomed subtlety she plotted and intended to make use of this occasion to make Damon believe that I had this Child by Thersander and therefore she expresly charged Ormanthe to tell no body of it in the world and afterwards because her belly began to swell she taught her how to dresse her selfe that it might best deceive the worlds notice But when Damon was dead and that all things were changed yet she resolved to pursue her plot and make use of it to my ruine and thus she went to work Since this sad accident of Damon I kept my bed almost continually unlesse in the afternoones I rose and shut my selfe up in my Closet and there stayed till nine or ten of the clock at night entertaining my own melancholly thoughts alone and none knew where I was except my Nurse and some Maides that waited upon me whom I had charged to tell none in the world where I was And because it might be thought strange I never went to the Queen if it were known I was not sick I faigned my selfe to be so and to deceive the Physicians I did not complain of a Feavour or any